We’re just over a week into autumn but the days have been consistently growing hazy for several weeks as we creep in towards Samhain. A time that, in our house, mostly revolves around decorating and celebrating a modern-day Halloween with our children. However, in the days leading up to that, I will also weave magic into our Halloween activities where I can. We will carve jack-o-lanterns for protection and bake pumpkin seeds for prosperity. We’ll read the Greek myth about Persephone’s yearly return to the underworld, and this year we’ll collect acorns for pocket protection charms. It’s an also an excellent time to feast, but this is a rare exception in that I much prefer to skip on a special meal in exchange for our ritual of trick-or-treating!
Although I haven’t yet been called to a deity in my spiritual practice, I have been called by my ancestors. Most mornings I sit at my desk before the rest of the house is awake, I light a candle and greet my ancestors first thing as the start to my morning ritual. I thank them for their protection and guidance and invite them to spend my day with me. In return, they have become more generous with their time and knowledge. I often feel their presence and am comforted by it.
If you have considered connecting to your ancestors, now as the veil thins, is the ideal time. Even if you don’t have space for a dedicated altar. Even if your relationship with your living family is complicated. Holding a trinket that was once theirs, cooking a favorite meal, or displaying a photo, all while talking to them, will do. If you don’t have access to those things, going for a walk or lighting a candle and speaking to a passed love one (or an admired friend or hero with no blood relation) is sufficient. If you want to connect to ancestors who names and faces you don’t know, begin by lighting a black candle, or using a protection stone in its place, and be sure to specify that you only welcome benevolent ancestors or ancestors of your highest good into your life. You might be surprised by who shows up to greet you in return, or the way they let you know that they are listening and guiding you.
Whether you lead a secular life or one devoted to a common religion, remembering and honoring our passed loved ones is something that can bring us all comfort and give a deeper meaning to this life. Holding space in our lives for them and remembering them calls them to us, no matter what our spiritual practice looks like.
Pumpkin Magic
October is full of pumpkin everything, which makes it so much easier to incorporate into your kitchen witchery. Use your favorite pumpkin bread/pie/pasta recipe and when adding in the pumpkin, take a moment to charge the ingredient to bring your desired intention to fruition. It can be quietly to yourself or aloud, and as elaborate or as simple as you’d like.
examples:
“I add in pumpkin for happiness”
“Pumpkin seeds, I thank you for your nourishment and ask that you bring your power of abundance to this recipe”
“Pumpkin in this cup, bless those who eat this bread with prosperity and protection”
Pumpkin correspondences: prosperity, protection, happiness, fertility
Acorn Magic
Last fall I saw several iterations all over social media of an acorn spell that involved picking up the first acorn of fall and carrying it around in your pocket, and this year I decided to try riff on those with my children. Carrying an acorn charm is akin to a lucky four leaf clover, with the intention of protection rather than luck.
Acorn Protection Charm:
1 acorn
Pick up an acorn, hold it in your hand and simply charge it with your intention. You can enchant it with a small verse or simply ask for its protection throughout the fall and winter. Then tuck it in your jacket pocket, in your car, or in a purse or small wallet that you carry around. When spring comes thank your acorn for its protection and return it to the earth.
Other Ways to Use Acorns
In addition to acorn protection charms, I have added acorns to my working altar as well as my kitchen altar for fall decoration with the intention of also bringing prosperity to all areas of my life.
If you are a forager, or a baker with access to acorn flour, you can bring the magic of acorns into your kitchen witchery. It is time consuming to process acorns but is a special and seasonal ingredient to work with. Replace about 1/4 cup of acorn flour in place of traditional wheat flour in your recipes to add a sweet, nutty flavor.
Acorn correspondences: protection, strength, luck, wisdom, youthfulness